One World Cup winner already resides within our borders up a farm track in Dalton near Ponteland.

And another England hero who lives just a tad further west on the outskirts of Corbridge could be joining him on our national roll of honour come tomorrow morning.

Jack Charlton is ready to welcome Jonny Wilkinson into an elite inner circle of super heroes to a nation that hasn't enjoyed too many down some barren years.

Big Jack, centre-half when England defeated West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley, will be cheering on Wilkinson and his comrades against Australia in Sydney when fate in the shape of the boot of a proud Newcastle Falcon could decide where rugby's most prestigious trophy is about to be housed.

Wilkinson can become a fellow World Cup winner as, thousands of miles away, Charlton enjoys his breakfast in front of the television set.

"I'd love that and, aye, I'm expecting it," Jack told me with the glow of national pride. "England look destined to win the World Cup doing it their own way as we did in 66, and Jonny is their big star. He's the glamour boy who kicks the points and it'll be terrific for him when we beat the Aussies.

"I mightn't understand all the intricacies of the game but I've become addicted, and I'll be in front of the telly tomorrow cheering England on.

"I know enough to realise what's happening and I know we have the game to defeat Australia even though they are the host nation.

"I'm a patriot like everyone else."

What appeals to Big Jack, always a maverick soul but one of football's great tactical brains, is that England's rugby side has devised a particular way of playing that ignores the clamour for "fancy dan stuff" and instead brings victory.

Jack's England of 66 did it with their wingless wonders, Charlton himself did it with the Republic of Ireland devising many a World Cup upset against allegedly superior opposition, and England's rugby 15 play the same disciplined way.

"Sir Alf devised a 4-4-2 system that brought great success even though he got hammered for not playing wingers," explained Charlton. "I remember us going to Spain before the World Cup finals and their full-backs didn't know what to do because they hadn't a player to man mark.

"I've always loved tactics and the opportunity they give to outwit the opposition. I always tried to come up with the right formula for the right players as a manager.

"And this England rugby team plays a specific way that suits them and brings results. The French may be known as a running team with bags of flair but they lost, didn't they?

"England have good forwards, they are strong in the centre, and they have the best kicker in world rugby - Jonny Wilkinson, who is phenomenal. I could watch him all day.

"If I was an Australian I'd want to get somebody very close to Wilkinson for the full 80 minutes - but doing it successfully is quite another matter."

Charlton has been so enamoured by England's performances Down Under in hostile territory that he sent coach Clive Woodward a message of support prior to the semi-final victory over France.

"Jack's language was clear - it's all about winning and nothing else," revealed Woodward. "That's what we've been saying ever since we arrived for this World Cup.

"I think Jack fits nicely with our captain Martin Johnson in terms of his approach to playing the game.

"That's the ethic of this team - we're absolutely determined not to leave the pitch without a win."

Woodward has admitted the England soccer side that won the World Cup 37 years ago is his inspiration as he tries to enter the history books alongside them.

Clive was a 10-year-old on his father's air force base watching the match on TV and he recalls: "It's the one thing I've witnessed in sport that makes me swell with pride and gives me inspiration.

"I could still name you the entire team - but then couldn't everyone? We've now got our chance to go into the records with them and that drives me on."

Jack Charlton and Clive Woodward will be swapping places come kick- off time - Jack the fan in front of the box this time and Clive the participant.

"I was speaking with a former England rugby player a few months ago and he told me to put a lot of money on England to win the World Cup," said Charlton. "I didn't because I'm not a betting man, but I'll be thinking of him tomorrow when hopefully he'll be proved right."